Furthering the use of research evidence: 18 teams funded in 2018 Reach competition

MSFHR’s Reach Program is designed to facilitate the uptake of health research evidence to inform and/or improve further research, practice and policy-making.

Introduced in 2017, Reach awards provide funding of up to $10,000 for teams of health researchers and research users as they plan and implement research dissemination activities to enable the transfer, exchange and/or uptake of research evidence in audiences who can directly use the information.

This year, 18 teams will be working at 11 BC institutions including Island Health, Simon Fraser University (SFU), University of the Fraser Valley, University of Victoria (UVic), University of Northern BC and Vancouver Island University. Guided by both research and research user expertise, teams will make use of workshops, online games, an online magazine and even a documentary film to share research and improve health policy and practice.

Focused on BC’s health system priorities, projects range from stress resilience among healthcare workers, to early interventions to prevent childhood obesity and management of opioid overdose risk in housing facilities.

MSFHR actively seeks co-funding partners to allow us to fund a greater number of BC researchers and provide an opportunity for partnering organizations to advance research in their areas of interest.

This year, MSFHR is delighted to co-fund three Reach awards in partnership with the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. Based at SFU, UVic and UBC’s Stigma & Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre, these awards are focused on supporting sexual health in women living with HIV and LGBTQ youth, and helping people living with HIV navigate the housing system in BC.

2018 marks 25 years since our namesake, Dr. Michael Smith, received his Nobel Prize. A pre-eminent BC scientist, Dr. Smith had a long-standing commitment to supporting emerging research talent, developing scientific excellence, and building research capacity in BC. MSFHR is proud to continue his legacy with every funding award we issue.

• Find out more about Dr. Michael Smith
• Interested in co-funding an MSFHR award? Visit our partnership page